Ahmedabad: The Crime Branch on Sunday busted an alleged illegal exotic animal breeding and sale racket operating from a flat in Navrangpura, seizing around 46 animals and 21 birds of rare and high-value species kept in cramped conditions.

The accused, Manikanandan K. Nadar (41), had allegedly turned a 10×12-foot room into a makeshift breeding unit over the past six to seven months. Acting on a tip-off about the supply of snake venom for rave parties, police instead uncovered a large-scale exotic pet trading network.

Seized animals included a red-handed tamarin infant, seven Persian cats and kittens, 14 hamsters, 15 mini lop rabbits, and nine Netherland dwarf rabbits. Birds recovered included six African grey parrots, five blue-and-gold macaws, three eclectus parrots, four sun conures, two galah cockatoos, one sulphur-crested cockatoo, and several lovebirds, cockatiels, budgerigars, and finches.

Officials said documents uploaded on the ‘PARIVESH’ portal were incomplete and questionable. A senior officer noted that keeping such species in a congested residential setting without biosecurity safeguards posed serious zoonotic risks.

Investigators said the accused allegedly sold animals for ₹50,000 to ₹5 lakh to affluent buyers, mainly farmhouse owners in and around Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar. The Forest Department has been named the complainant, and Customs authorities have been alerted to examine possible illegal imports or exports.

Police said the accused claimed to hold a temporary Forest Department permit issued in Gandhinagar following a neighbour’s complaint. However, no valid permissions for commercial breeding, health certification, or scientific housing infrastructure were found.

Authorities found no records of mandatory declarations, veterinary supervision, or quarantine arrangements. Links with Customs officials in Chennai are also under scrutiny, as police probe possible illegal cross-border movement of animals. The business was allegedly inherited from the accused’s father.

The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, Forest Department, and Customs will jointly investigate documentation, import legality, and potential public health risks. DeshGujarat